LDEF (Flight), AO038 : Interstellar Gas Experiment, Tray F06 The flight photograph was taken from the Orbiter aft flight deck during the LDEF retrieval. The OMS pod and a small part of the aft bulkhead in the Orbiter's cargo bay can be seen along the left side of the photograph. The three (3) black rectangles on the OMS pod are locations where thermal protection tiles were lost during the Orbiters ascent to orbit. During the LDEF mission, the F06 experiment tray surface was at an angle of approximately eighty-two (82) degrees to the orbital velocity vector and therefore exposed to a higher atomic oxygen flux than if parallel with the velocity vector. The white paint dots and experiment tray clamps along the upper edge of the tray appear to be clean. However, a brown stain is present on the white paint dots and experiment tray clamps along the lower edge of the tray. The color of the white thermal control paint on the IGE has changed from white to differing shades of brown. The brown stain on the tray sidewalls and all experiment hardware appears to be a product of contamination and the space environment. A hand print, not visible in the prelaunch photograph, can be seen on the baseplate in the lower half of the experiment tray. The white dot near the lower corner of the end sidewall is a reflection of the GSE test connector located in the lower left corner of the baseplate. The two (2) white dots on the experiment baseplate, near the left end of the tray, appear to be imperfections in the photograph since they were not observed during post-flight inspection..The insulation on the grid voltage cable that was transparent prior to launch is now a light tan color. The lighting and camera angle provide a clear view of the baffles located interior and near the upper edges of the canister housing. The baffles seem to be relatively clean of the brown contamination.

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